We're already lit, so who needs a match: THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So this is a fun one, truly! I'm not always a Christmas book fan, but when it's a holiday romantic comedy combined with a locked room mystery (and written by Ally Carter)... THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR does an amazing job of just running with the cheesy over-the-top romance and mystery tropes, acknowledging them straight out (there's only one bed!) and laughing along with them.

We're introduced to our rival mystery writers, Maggie Chase, known for her cozy mysteries and recent divorce, where her entitled husband left her for her best friend, and Ethan Wyatt, a handsome and popular thriller writer. The two have a history together, with Ethan consistently calling her Marcie and Maggie consistently hating Ethan. But now they've been mysteriously invited to the English home of Eleanor Ashley, the most popular crime writer ever, and Maggie's writing idol.

But before you know it: Eleanor's disappeared from a locked room, someone's been poisoned, gunshots have been fired, and what looked like an amazing opportunity to meet Eleanor has turned into a desperate attempt to just stay alive. Or, is it a test concocted by crafty Eleanor herself? Carter gives us a wickedly fun locked room mystery with a twist: it's being solved by rival mystery writers who just might be going from rivals to lovers.

Because it seems like Ethan's been crushing on Maggie for a while. (We had to wait a while to figure out why he loved her from first sight. His obsession seems a little over the top for a bit.) Maggie, meanwhile, is reeling from her divorce and has little reason to believe in Ethan, or anything, especially herself. But she knows Eleanor Ashley. She grew up on her books. As Maggie grows in confidence, the two run through a series of wild and outlandish scenarios (gunshots! fires! secret chambers!) while exchanging quips, witty banter, and smoldering glances.

At times, it felt like my rhythm with CRIME was a little off. I wanted it to move a bit faster than it did. Ethan and Maggie's memories of their various earlier meetings provided justification for their characters' current actions, but as those trickled in slowly, sometimes the two seemed a bit frustrating. But, overall, this was really a fun read, leaning into both the romance and mystery angles, working the English manor in a snowstorm atmosphere, and giving us an enjoyable read while still highlighting the importance of believing in women--and yourself. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon in return for an unbiased review.

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